Health - Public Affairs Trainee & Secondment to Pharmaceutical Company

Health - Public Affairs Trainee & Secondment to Pharmaceutical Company

Acumen Public Affairs

Brussels, Belgium

Are you passionate about EU health policy and eager to gain first-hand experience inside a leading public affairs agency and biopharmaceutical company? Do you enjoy analysing the impact of EU health policy? Are you motivated, curious, and keen to learn in a fast-paced international environment?

If so, this opportunity may be perfect for you!

Acumen Public Affairs is recruiting two trainees who will join the Acumen team as well as be seconded to a leading pharmaceutical company for a 12-month traineeship within their European Policy & Government Affairs team in Brussels.

About the role

You will work day-to-day within the Pharmaceutical Company’s Policy & Government Affairs team, supporting policy monitoring and analysis as well as stakeholder engagement activities across European health and pharmaceutical policy topics. You will also maintain regular connectivity with Acumen through trainings, mentoring, and performance follow-up. This role offers a unique opportunity to experience both a consultancy and in-house EU public affairs environment.

Key responsibilities

Under the supervision of the pharmaceutical company and Acumen managers, you will support:

• Monitoring of EU health, pharmaceutical and life sciences policy developments;
• Policy research and analysis on EU legislative and regulatory files;
• Drafting of briefings, summaries and internal notes;
• Preparation of stakeholder meetings and events;
• Mapping of policy stakeholders and institutional processes;
• Coordination and organisational support for public affairs activities;
• General support to the European Policy & Government Affairs team.

What we are looking for

We are looking for motivated graduates with strong analytical and writing skills and a genuine interest in EU health policy.

Requirements

Essential:

• EU national or work permit holder as the traineeship is in Brussels, Belgium;
• Perfect command of English; additional EU language skills are an asset;
• Strong analytical and planning skills;
• Demonstrable interest in EU health policy;
• Advanced research and writing skills, including the ability to summarise issues quickly and accurately;
• Ability to work in a team, whilst at the same time carrying out own tasks independently and to agreed deadlines;
• Flexibility, enthusiasm, ability to work under tight deadlines in an international environment;
• Proficient with IT and new media tools.

Desirable:

• Previous experience in EU policy, public affairs, or health or pharmaceutical sectors is considered a strong asset;
• Previous experience/traineeship in one of the European Institutions – especially in DG SANTE or working for MEPs in the Parliament’s ENVI/SANT/ITRE Committee;
• A Master’s degree in EU affairs, public policy, law, political science, public health, economics, pharmaceutical science or similar;
• Understanding of EU legislative processes.